Go beyond studying hard: ETSU professors tell how to succeed in the classroom
Listen closely and take notes in class. Read the assigned chapters. Turn in assignments. Study hard for quizzes and tests.
Sounds like the formula for success in the classroom, right? All of that is certainly critical to learning. But now that you’ve settled into the semester, what else can you do, whether you’re doing great or you’re struggling a bit, to get the most out of the learning experience in your classes?
Several ETSU professors from a variety of academic disciplines took the time to share their best advice on how students can succeed in the classroom:
“I tell students that getting to know your professors in class and during office hours
is the best way to succeed in class. By getting to know them, you’re more likely to
feel comfortable and confident asking questions, brainstorming on assignments, and
reaching out for help. Professors who know you can also tailor the advice to you!
It’s much easier to help a student when I know about their circumstances and educational/career
journey.”
Jillian Q. Alexander
Director of First Year Experience and Lecturer, College of Business and Technology
“My best advice beyond ‘study hard’ is to stay curious. Not every topic will be of
interest to you, but take the opportunity to be curious about the ones that give you
the desire to know more. Being curious is a characteristic that will forever allow
you to grow personally and professionally no matter your path. You never know ...
that one spark of curiosity could change your life in ways you could never have imagined.”
Dr. Kelly Price
Associate Professor and Master of Digital Marketing Program Director, Department of
Marketing
“Do the assigned readings. Go beyond surface responses or work – dig deeper! Let me
know when you are struggling so we can work on a solution together. Focus on learning,
not a grade!”
Dr. Susan Bramlett Epps
Professor and Program Coordinator, M.Ed. Higher Ed Leadership
“Ask clarifying questions – don’t make assumptions. Own your career and your success.
“If you are early, then you are ‘on time.’ If you are on time, then you are ‘late.’
If you are late, then you are ‘fired.’ (a.k.a. Be proactive.)”
William Kinser
Professor of Practice, Department of Computing
“My biggest advice to students is to come to office hours or reach out to me if they
are struggling – if they are confused, having a hard time keeping up, or even if they
are just interested in learning a bit more about something. So often, students don’t
reach out until final grades are due, and there isn’t much I can do for them at that
point. If they come to me as soon as things start getting tough, I can help them work
out a plan for success.”
Dr. Brianna (Cusanno) August-Rae
Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies and Storytelling
“Find a study partner, come to class (if on ground), manage time effectively, communicate
with your instructor and stay organized.”
Whitney D. Oliver
Lecturer and Coordinator, College of Public Health Bachelor of Science Health Administration
Degree Program
“The most significant challenge in college is time management. There seems to be a
lot of ‘free time.’ This is a mirage. It doesn’t take long until you may feel overwhelmed
and stressed. How to combat this? My best practical tip: Put EVERY due date for EVERY
course in YOUR calendar. Having them on YOUR calendar is the best way to remind yourself
of upcoming assignments and tests.”
Dr. Andrew F. Herrmann
Professor, Department of Communication Studies and Storytelling
“I have found a few things that students in writing and literature and other creativity-focused
classes can do to make the most of their experiences. It is valuable to check in with
yourself every now and then to see how you are feeling, what you are thinking, and
to try to understand where you find yourself. One of the best ways to do this is to
keep a notebook, where you can record whatever comes to mind, everything from what
your friends said at lunch to an image that you would like to turn into a poem or
a painting. Most of us probably use the notes function on our phones for this kind
of thing, but I would really encourage you to be more intentional about it and make
this a separate process. One of the best aspects about writing on paper is that it
almost insists that you slow down and focus on doing this one thing. Personally, I
have never found multi-tasking to offer any benefit to creativity. The simple act
of writing by hand gives you a chance to collect your thoughts and feelings, and even
to gather those fragments and bits of ephemera that haven’t become fully coherent
ideas yet.
“I would add that it’s important for artists in any form to be explorers, and that
part of the thrill of making art involves searching for the work that shines the brightest
light for you. The former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser says, ‘A poet’s education
is mostly self-education,’ and I think he means that we are often most inspired by
things we discover on our own. You can take the examples that your professors and
mentors give for learning your artform and use those to set a good foundation for
building the house of your own voice and vision. As an artist, your job involves making
things hopefully to share with others, just like a carpenter or a baker, and your
work also has tools and ingredients. The most important of these are time and space,
a few quiet minutes every day to reflect on your experiences and a few empty pages
in a notebook to record your reflections.”
Dr. Jesse Graves
Professor of English and Poet in Residence, Department of Literature and Language
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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